Severe Weather

Sequestration worries complicate state budget work

The stalemate over looming federal budget cuts is making it difficult for New Hampshire lawmakers to draft a budget.

Budget writers in Concord are trying to evaluate Gov. Maggie Hassan's budget plan, but with the deadline on sequestration set for Friday, lawmakers said they're not sure how it will affect the state's pocketbook.

Lawmakers said many state agencies depend on federal dollars.

"They aren't sure how much they ought to be relying on federal funds, which are a bit shaky, and what's actually coming from the state, which is equally precarious," said Rep. Melinda Garcia, R-Salem.

According to a recent White House report, education is one area that will be particularly affected. On Thursday, state Education Commissioner Virginia Barry met with the governor. Barry said the uncertainty is weighing heavily on New Hampshire, schools from teachers to administrators.

"Obviously, it's very unsettling," Barry said. "It's a very difficult time in the country. People are looking for answers, and we just don't have them, and as soon as we do, we'll be in touch with our superintendents to let them know the overall impact."

Hassan said that if the federal cuts are implemented, it could affect 6,000 jobs in New Hampshire.

"That's about 1 percent of our workforce, and there are dollars that come to our state agencies that provide really important services, like teaching children with special needs or helping children who are disadvantaged socioeconomically," Hassan said.

Many political observers said a compromise to avoid the sequester is unlikely by Friday.

The numbers: How sequestration could affect New Hampshire

The numbers: How sequestration could affect New Hampshire

What is sequestration? As defined by CNN, sequestration is a "series of automatic, across-the-board cuts to government agencies, totaling $1.2 trillion over 10 years. The cuts would be split 50-50 between defense and domestic discretionary spending."

If it takes effect March 1, sequestration would affect the Granite State. The White House released numbers Sunday detailing just how drastic the cuts would be at the state level. Click through to learn how...

Sequestration would have a tremendous effect on education funding. The Granite State would lose $1.078 million in funding for primary and secondary education. According to the White House, this would mean that 1,000 fewer students would be served and 10 fewer schools would receive funding.

New Hampshire would lose $2.2 million in funds for 30 teachers and staff members who assist children with disabilities.

The White House says that the cuts would result in around 120 fewer low income students receiving aid to finance college costs. Around 130 fewer students would get work-study jobs to help pay for college, according to the numbers.

Head Start and Early Head Start services would be cut for around 100 children in the state, according to the White House.

The Granite State, known for its beautiful outdoors, would lose about $1.5 million in environmental funding. This money would have been set to help fund clean water, air quality and pollution protection. Another $359,000 meant for fish and wildlife protection could also be lost.

Around 1,000 civilian Department of Defense employees would be furloughed in New Hampshire. This would reduce the gross pay to around $5.4 million, according to the White House.

Cuts would also affect the Army in New Hampshire. Funding for the operation of bases would be cut by about $1 million, according to the White House.

The cuts would also affect law enforcement and crime prevention in New Hampshire. Around $71,000 in justice assistance grants would be lost.

The state would lose about $138,000 in funding for job search assistance. The White House says those numbers would translate to around 4,950 fewer job-seekers getting the assistance they need.

The White House says up to 100 disadvantaged and vulnerable children could lose access to child care as a result of the cuts.

The cuts would lead to $46,000 in cuts for child vaccination funding, meaning 680 fewer children would receive shots for various diseases like Hepatitis B, measles, mumps or whopping cough.

The state would lose about $126,000 in funds to help respond to publich health threats, including diseases, natural disasters or nuclear events.

The Granite State would lose about $330,000 in grants for substance abuse programs, resulting in 300 fewer admissions. Also, 1,500 fewer HIV tests would be conducted due to cuts of about $60,000 to the New Hampshire State Department of Health Statistics and Data Management.

The cuts could result in New Hampshire losing up to $28,000 in funds for programs that help domestic violence victims, meaning 100 fewer victims would be served assistance.

The state would also lose around $225,000 in funds that provide meals for senior citizens, according to the White House.